Yeah I tend to believe that.* Researching through history, it
   seems that there is a "spirit of the times" and the same idea
   will show up in a LOT OF people's heads at around the same time.
   It kinda makes sense.* We live in shared cultures... exposed to
   similar influences... it makes sense that there would be a
   "right time" for a particular idea or a particular set of words
   to pop up in multiple brains simultaneously. My least favorite
   but most memorable is when I invented a surround-the-car system
   with cheap little cameras and cheap little color LCD displays. I
   was so proud of myself - this is back in 1999. I sketched it
   out, studied how to get a patent - EVERYTHING.* Until it came
   time for $$$. I thought, "Lemme just make sure someone else
   didn't do it first, but I'm 100% CERTAIN THAT i'M THE FIRST!"
   Well, six months before me, a japanese dude in California
   working for a tech company patented it before me. SIX MONTHS, he
   beat me by. Well, that was the last time I tried to patent
   something and that's when it really "hit home" that many people
   can be completely original at the same time while also having
   the exact same idea. [even the guys DRAWINGS were just like
   mine.* UGH.* I looked at it again last year... and saw how
   freakin' revolutionary it was and he's undoubtedly super-rich.*
   But... no jealousy.. no envy.. that's just how it is.. just how
   it is... just how it is.... [yeah, I'm still consoling myself
   over it :P ]